Alice blinked, absorbing the information and shaking her head. “Is Carla going to be all right?”
“She should be, now that they know what’s wrong. It’s a disease caused by the bacteria an animal carries and it shows up usually a week or so after exposure. The infected person experiences respiratory symptoms, but serious cases can result in hepatitis or even inflammation of the heart muscle.”
“Wow! Taking care of animals can be downright harmful to your health,” said Alice.
“I guess so. I bet Carla thinks twice before taking in wild birds again.”
“For sure,” Alice agreed. “By the way, where is Tara?”
“She stayed quite late yesterday at the shelter, helping Vanessa with the animals, but I heard her stirring about earlier.” Annie glanced through the kitchen screen, recalling how unusually quiet Tara had been since Carla’s illness. If she hadn’t acted quickly to get help for Carla, things could have turned out quite differently. But finding her had obviously been a shock for Tara.
As though she’d been summoned, Tara appeared at the screen door in her signature jeans and the same top she’d worn at her first Hook and Needle Club meeting. She traveled light, Annie realized, and made a mental note to offer some additions to her wardrobe.
“Good morning! Bring your coffee and come on out. Alice is here.” Some of yesterday’s tension had faded from Tara’s thin face, but a haunted expression lingered in her eyes.
“Hi, Tara,” Alice called, making room at the table.
Tara settled in a chair across from Annie and greeted them rather soberly, the shadows beneath her eyes pronounced in the sunlight.
“I called the hospital this morning,” Annie said, reassuringly. “Carla’s better. She’s responding to the treatment, but the hospital will probably keep her another day or so.” She paused, studying the face across the table. “Now, what about you? You look a little peaked today.”
“I’m fine,” Tara said, bringing the cup to her lips. “I didn’t mean to sleep so long.” An apologetic smile touched her lips, but it only heightened the melancholy that lingered there. Vanessa had been staying with her father for a few days and was unable to help, leaving the brunt of the work for Tara. She wasn’t strong and likely had overworked.
“I should go out to the shelter this morning,” Tara said, addressing no one in particular.
“I know the animals need to be fed,” Annie said. “I’ll go and give you a hand. That way you can be done in time for the meeting. You’re making such progress. Before you know it, you’ll be a champion knitter.”
Tara nodded, but she looked distracted. Perhaps she was simply tired. She had kept busy designing flyers for the benefit and helping Annie with the cross-stitch canvases. In the evenings she would disappear into her room; Annie had missed their conversations over tea.
****
Annie and Tara arrived only minutes before Mary Beth called the Hook and Needle Club meeting to order. Mary Beth came in from the back of the shop carrying a large, high-sided box. Apparently, the first order of business would have something to do with the mewling, wiggling contents of the box. The kittens had outgrown the basket, from which they might easily have escaped.
Mary Beth drew the kittens out one by one as Kate quickly recoiled. “We’ll get them out of here soon, Kate. I promise! Now, friends, it’s time for each of these darlings to take up new residence. I hope some of you able-bodied ladies are willing to provide some of them a home, or help me find them one. You can pick up your kitten after the meeting.” She cuddled each one and held it up for inspection before returning it to the box. The last kitten she brought out was the black runt of the litter.
Tara rushed over to Mary Beth, her eyes lighting up. “He’s so sweet and so small!” she said softly.
Annie was glad that the kittens had taken center stage and deferred the inevitable questions about Carla that were sure to come. She watched Tara take the black kitten from Mary Beth’s hands and hold it close to her cheek, stroking the soft fur.
“I’ll take the little black runt,” Annie said quickly, with a wink in Mary Beth’s direction. What had she done? Boots could eat it for lunch! She’d have to keep a close watch until Tara left and took it with her.
Gwendolyn Palmer, who had once rescued two kittens and was a great supporter of animals, couldn’t resist taking on another. Peggy chose a ragged black and gold female for Emily, whose birthday was only a couple of days away. Annie imagined the excitement on the little girl’s face when she saw her present. She’d probably put a tutu on the poor thing and teach it to dance!